”Your mskNAV program makes it so much easier to understand... and it's fun!!!" ” − M.D. in Sports Medicine

Success Stories

Scanning Views: A Sonographer's Story

"mskNAV has everything in one place. It’s very easy to use, saves so much time in learning, and makes you a competent and confident scanner in a much shorter time period.” − Pippa Tatge, RDMS/RVT/RMSK

Thinking back on learning ultrasound, I bought all the textbooks on MSK ultrasound I could find, completed the remote learning classes and watched many online videos. I also used several anatomical textbooks with “peel-away” images and cross-sectional anatomy. I scanned myself and my family a lot. However, it was really hard to know what I was seeing by referencing a still textbook image. Some textbooks were too detailed, others were too basic. It was a really slow process with a very steep learning curve. It was so hard to find all the information I needed in any one place.

Then I discovered mskNAV™. This program has everything in one place. It’s very easy to use, saves so much time in learning, and makes you a competent and confident scanner in a much shorter time period. It’s a great way to prep for the ultrasound exam because it has a lot of relevant material bundled onto an iPad. When planning to do a scan I don’t do that often, I use it to review information efficiently.

Gone are the days of trying to scan with reference textbooks sitting in the provider’s lap or hidden in the back office. iPad-based mskNAV presents side-by-side interpretation of the actual ultrasound image, and helps validate the scan in real time. Through advanced learning techniques and point-of-care technology, the provider feels more professional and up-to-date when scanning. In addition, conversations are opened up around treatment options and the patient feels involved and reassured that having an ultrasound exam was the right choice.

A Win-Win for Provider and Patient

“Having mskNAV at the bedside significantly increases my confidence in using ultrasound, performing scans and understanding the pathology quickly. It also leads the patient to a better understanding of the treatments and prognosis.”− Vaheed Sevvom, PA-C

I am a physician’s assistant working in a physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic, with emphasis on spine and sports medicine. Ultrasound is used widely at the clinic to assess issues involving muscles, nerves, ligaments, and joints.

There are two main challenges when using ultrasound. The first is that the machine itself has more settings and functions than I know how to use, much like my cell phone. Getting comfortable with some of the basic functions is straightforward, but becoming skilled at some of the finer settings and functions can be daunting. The second challenge is feeling confident enough to explain the results at the bedside to the patient. There is little time to review your findings because you’re typically performing the study in real-time, often with the patient watching the screen as the study is being performed.

mskNAV is both portable and user friendly. I am able to review “knobology”, anatomy, orientation, and pathology prior to the appointment or at the bedside quickly and efficiently. I am also able to show the patients their anatomy in both a textbook form or real-time in ultrasound images and make comparisons to normal and pathology ultrasound images on the program. It allows for instant access for me and a better understanding for both myself and the patient.

Having mskNAV at the bedside significantly increases my confidence in using ultrasound, performing scans and understanding the pathology quickly. It also significantly enhances the patient encounter, in that the patient has an instant diagnosis, a better understanding of the results and pathology. It allows for instant access for me and a better understanding for both myself and the patient.

In Collaboration with Imaging the World

“The ultrasound navigation software has the capacity to operate as a tutorial for someone just beginning to learn ultrasound, an interactive reference guide for someone who has already learned ultrasound, and as a means for patient education. Given the high maternal mortality rate in Uganda itself, the potential for this program is tremendous. ”− Spokesperson for Uganda project

In collaboration with Imaging the World, the NYAGI Foundation recently supplied tablet-based ultrasound training sytems to medical clinics. The maternal mortality rate among women living in rural areas and among poorer communities is high, where nearly 99% of those deaths occur in developing countries. Often times, these women die as a result of complications during pregnancy and childbirth due to limited resources and access to healthcare. Fortunately, most maternal deaths are preventable. There are many well-known healthcare solutions, such as the use of antenatal ultrasound scans, to detect and diagnose high-risk pregnancies. Unfortunately, there is a steep learning curve barrier to ultrasound technology that results in the under utilization of ultrasound in developing countries. NYAGI’s mission is to pair our teaching tools with ultrasound machines to break the barrier between medical technology and healthcare education. Our goal during our recent trip to Uganda, Africa, was to test our ultrasound navigation software in the hands of skilled healthcare providers and midwives. Partnering with Imaging the World (ITW), we introduced our program in rural clinics and hospitals throughout Uganda. The feedback we received was invaluable. Not only will our program provide an additional, interactive resource for healthcare providers, but it will vastly decrease the burden on other organizations as well. The ultrasound navigation software has the capacity to operate as a tutorial for someone just beginning to learn ultrasound, an interactive reference guide for someone who has already learned ultrasound, and as a means for patient education. Given the high maternal mortality rate in Uganda itself, the potential for this program is tremendous. We are very excited to move forward with the NYAGI-ITW collaboration, and take the power of ultrasound to the world!